Key



Dec. 20, 1927. 1,653,581

H. R. MCKELLAR KEY Filed March :3. 1927 Z 2a i) 2/ Z gwuwntoz fi e :47 4. VM z/ attorney Patented Dec. 29, 192?,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.--

HARRY REX MGKELLAR, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

' KEY.

Application filed March 3, 1927. Serial No. 172,388.

This invention relates to keys for looks, and particularly to devices for identifying keys as to their ownership, use and the like.

It is a matter of common experience that keys are frequently lost and rarely recovered,

chance of restoration to its owner would be very good indeed. Where keys are aggregated in a bunch, it is oftentimes troublesome to find the particular key wanted, especially where the bunch of keys are used by several persons, or where a particular key is sought for in the dark. It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a device for marking keys that is easy and convenient to apply, does not detract from the strength or appearance of the key, that is flexible so as to provide for change of ownership or use of the key, and that may be rendered visible in darkness. The particular construction and advantages of devices embodying the invention will be readily understood from the followin detailed de- 119 scription in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, whereof:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a key, such as used with an ordinary lock, having applied thereto marking devices constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a retaining slide for the letter blocks having aslightly different form from that of the slide shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 illustratesa form of marking deice suitable for smaller keys;

Fig. 5 is a sectional. view corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing a modified form of locking slide; and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate three different forms of lockirig element for the slide.

Referring to these drawings, and particiv larly to Figs. 1 and 2, the circular handle of the key is formed on oneface near the periphery with a shallow circular slot 10, which extends from the point a to the point Z), where it opens into a relatively wide slot 11 cuf' entirely through the thickness-of the key diametrieally W from the periphery to a point inwardly beyond the center of the handle.

Letter blocks 12 are adapted to be inserted into the circular slot 10 at the open end 6 thereof. These blocks may be of metal or may be formed of a suitable composition.

It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the slot 10. is wider at the bottom than at the top; that isothis slot is preferably slightly dove-tail in cross section. The sides of the letter blocks 12 are correspondingly beveled and curved, so that they have a nice sliding fit in groove 10, the thickness of the blocks being such that when the blocks are inserted their top faces are flush with the face of the key handle. These blocks may, for example,

be arranged to spell the name and address of the owner, suitable plain spacing blocks 12 being provided for separating the words or filling gaps in the lettering, and a plain block 12 being placed at the open end of the slot to coact with the locking slide 13. The walls and inner end of slot 11 may be convex in cross section,as shown in Fig. 2,

and the sides of the locking slide 13v will of course be concave so as to have a nice sliding lit with the walls of the slot. This slide is inserted after the letter blocks have been arranged in slot 10 and after the insertion of terminal block 12". In case slot 11 is cut entirely through the key handle, as shown, the thickness of the slide is made equal to the thickness of the key handle, so as not to weaken the key and preserve the usual appearance thereof, the length of the slide being such that when the slide is fully inserted its curved outer edge will form a continuation of the circular periphery of the key handle.

Slide 13 is formed with a semicircular notch 14 which registers witha semicircular notch inthe handle and therewith forms a circular hole partly through the handle and partly through the slide A split key ring 15 may be passed through this hole and will then look the slide against displacement, theslide in turn retaining the letter blocks. Obviously any convenient number of keys equipped with the identification devices described'may be strung on the ring 15, or one key thus marked may serve as a key tag for a bunch of keys.

The slide, may be formed with a shallow slot 16 similar in cross section to 'the circular slot 10, and extending from the inner end of the slide to a point 6 short of the outer end. Letter blocks 1? rectangular they are applied.

form may be inserted in slot 16 from the open end thereof prior to insertion of the slide, these blocks spelling a word or words indicating, for example, the use. or function of the key. Blocks bearing figures may be furnished for indicating the numbers of houses, streets, rooms, etc., and bearing any other devices or symbols for which there is a demand.

I The letter blocks may be of any convenient or desired size, within the limits imposed by the. size of the particular key to which A plurality of rows of letters may be used. Fig. 3, for instance, shows a slide 13 formed with two grooves adapted to seat two rows of letters. The slide itself may be made up of separate blocks bearing suitable indicia. The letters may be formed so as to be readable in the dar'l; or by blind persons. For the use of the blind, the letters will be raised or embossed. For rendering the letters visible in the dark they should be made suffioiently large, depressed, and coated with so-called aluminum paint. Permanent information, such as the city and State of the owner, may be stamped on the key by the retailer, while the manufacturer may stamp such legends as, Reward for return. 7

Fig. 1- shows a small key furnished with a slide 18, but withoutthe circular series of lettering shown in Fig. 1, the diameter of the handle in this case being too small to accommodate the circular series. The slide 18 may bear on one or both faces any desired indicia which may be formed, for example, by the simple means of nail and hammer, or with a center punch. In this I modification the slide is locked by a relatively small split rmg 19, which may also serve attaching 'means to a larger key ring; llarger keys may of course be provided with a slide such as 18 associated or not with a circular series of letters in the handle.

Fig. 5 shows a slide 13 of different form from that shown in Fig. 2. In this modification the sides of the slide and also the innerend are convex in cross section while the walls of its slot 11 are concave. This form adapts the slide to be formed of two or more complementary pieces. As shown, the slide is formed of two identical superposedhalves, the concave form of the slot walls holding the par-ts together. A. slide ofthis construction is adapted'to contain secret inscrlptlons onthe inner hidden faces of the two halves, such inscriptions contaming information for the owners use only, for example, information relative" to a depository, such as a safety deposit boX,

to which the key belongs; or the finger printof the owner may be preserved between the inner faces of a slide of this construction.

Of course this modified form of slide is also Instead of locking the slide with an ordi narykey ring, as shown in Fig. 1, or with a small split ring as shown in F ig. l, var1- pus other forms of locking elements may be employed within the scope of the invention. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 for example, show three different forms of locking element. That shown in Fig. (iconsists of a D-shaped piece of tubular metal having the member 20 integrally'joined to member 21, but separate from and abut-tine" member 22 -The metal is resilient so that this element may be applied by forcing part 22 away from part 20 with a pair of plierssufliciently-to pas-s the'key handle between these parts to bring the part 20 'into registry with the hole partly in the handle and partly in the slide, whereupon the. parts are released and part 20 snaps through the hole, locking the slide.

The locking element shown by Fig. 7 consists of a U-shaped piece 'of metal 23 joined ne'ar'the ends by a screw 24. This screw is round and approximately of the same diameter as that of the hole in the slide and key handle, and the lock is applied by inserting the screw through said hole and screwing it home. Fig. 8 shows a locking element of D-shape having a split portion at '25 through which the key handle is adapted to be inserted andthe split end passed through the hole, the portion 26 of this element being approximately of the same diameter as the hole and adapted to be snugly received thereby.

Nowhaving particularly described devices embodying my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination with a key having a handle formed with 'a slot, a slide "in said slot bearing suitable indicia, said slide and handle being formed with registering semicircular recesses,and alocking element in the hole defined by said recesses.

2. In combination with a key having a circular handle formed with a diametrically extending slot having its side walls curved in cross section, a slide bearing suitable indicia fitting said slot said handle and slide having registering notches forming an. aperture, and a locking element passing through said aperture.

3. In combination with a key having a circular handle formed with a shallow circular slot adjacent its periphery and formed with a diametric'al slot into which one end of said circular slotopens, letter block-s fitting said circular slot, a slide in said dia'metrical slot, and'means for locking said slide.

4. In combination with a key having a circular handle formed with a shallow circular slot adjacent its periphery and formed lOO opening at one end into said diametrical slot,-

said circular slot being dove-tail in 'cross section and said diametrical slot having side walls curved in cross section, letter blocks fitting said circular slot, a'slide fitting said diametrical slot, said slide and handle being formed with complementary notches forming a circular aperture, and a split key ring passed through said aperture.-

5; In combination with a key having a handle formed with a slot open at one end, a

slide bearing suitable indicia adapted to be inserted through the open end of said slot, said slide having a semicircular notch in one edge and said handle formed with a complementary notch adapted to register with said semicircular notch when said slide is fully inserted to form a hole partly in the slide and partly in the handle, and a locking element passing through said hole.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HARRY REX. MCKELLARQ 

